Cassava bacterial blight (CBB), incited by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis ( Xam ), is the most important bacterial disease of cassava, a staple food source for millions of people in developing countries. Here we present a widely applicable strategy for elucidating the virulence components of a pathogen population. We report Illumina-based draft genomes for 65 Xam strains and deduce the phylogenetic relatedness of Xam across the areas where cassava is grown. Using an extensive database of effector proteins from animal and plant pathogens, we identify the effector repertoire for each sequenced strain and use a comparative sequence analysis to deduce the least polymorphic of the conserved effectors. These highly conserved effectors have been maintained over 11 countries, three continents, and 70 y of evolution and as such represent ideal targets for developing resistance strategies.

BackgroundCitrus canker is a disease that has severe economic impact on the citrus industry worldwide. There are three types of canker, called A, B, and C. The three types have different phenotypes and affect different citrus species. The causative agent for type A is Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, whose genome sequence was made available in 2002. Xanthomonas fuscans subsp. aurantifolii strain B causes canker B and Xanthomonas fuscans subsp. aurantifolii strain C causes canker C.ResultsWe have sequenced the genomes of strains B and C to draft status. We have compared their genomic content to X. citri subsp. citri and to other Xanthomonas genomes, with special emphasis on type III secreted effector repertoires. In addition to pthA, already known to be present in all three citrus canker strains, two additional effector genes, xopE3 and xopAI, are also present in all three strains and are both located on the same putative genomic island. These two effector genes, along with one other effector-like gene in the same region, are thus good candidates for being pathogenicity factors on citrus. Numerous gene content differences also exist between the three cankers strains, which can be correlated with their different virulence and host range. Particular attention was placed on the analysis of genes involved in biofilm formation and quorum sensing, type IV secretion, flagellum synthesis and motility, lipopolysacharide synthesis, and on the gene xacPNP, which codes for a natriuretic protein.ConclusionWe have uncovered numerous commonalities and differences in gene content between the genomes of the pathogenic agents causing citrus canker A, B, and C and other Xanthomonas genomes. Molecular genetics can now be employed to determine the role of these genes in plant-microbe interactions. The gained knowledge will be instrumental for improving citrus canker control.

The phylogenetic classification of the species Burkholderia andropogonis within the Burkholderia genus was reassessed using 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analysis and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA). Both phylogenetic trees revealed two main groups, named A and B, strongly supported by high bootstrap values (100%). Group A encompassed all of the Burkholderia species complex, whi.le Group B only comprised B. andropogonis species, with low percentage similarities with other species of the genus, from 92 to 95% for 16S rRNA gene sequences and 83% for conserved gene sequences. Average nucleotide identity (ANI), tetranucleotide signature frequency, and percentage of conserved proteins POCP analyses were also carried out, and in the three analyses B. andropogonis showed lower values when compared to the other Burkholderia species complex, near 71% for ANI, from 0.484 to 0.724 for tetranucleotide signature frequency, and around 50% for POCP, reinforcing the distance observed in the phylogenetic analyses. Our findings provide an important insight into the taxonomy of B. andropogonis. It is clear from the results that this bacterial species exhibits genotypic differences and represents a new genus described herein as Robbsia andropogonis gen. nov., comb. nov.

This PCR-based diagnostic test is suitable for monitoring asymptomatic plants in areas where the bacteria is endemic, in plant quarantine and regulatory situations, and also for obtaining an accurate diagnosis in a very short time. These are important characteristics for any assay to be used for the management of citrus canker disease.

Bacterial black spot, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae, is an important disease of mango (Mangifera indica). Several other plant genera of the family Anacardiaceae were described as host species for xanthomonads. We studied pathological variations among strains in a worldwide collection from several Anacardiaceae genera. Strains were classified into three pathogenicity groups. Group I strains (from the Old World) multiplied markedly in leaf tissue of mango and cashew (Anacardium occidentale). Group II strains (from Brazil) multiplied markedly in cashew leaf tissue, but not in mango. Moreover, mango leaves inoculated with group I and group II strains exhibited lesions with different morphologies, consistent with variations in symptomology previously reported on mango under field conditions. Group I strains produced black, raised lesions, consistent with the original description of the pathovar, whereas group II strains produced brownish, flat lesions. Group III strains produced a unique syndrome on ambarella (Spondias dulcis) and mombin (Spondias mombin). Based on evolutionary genome divergence derived from amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) data, the three groups were genetically distinct and were related to groups 9.5, 9.6, and 9.4 of X. axonopodis identified by Rademaker, respectively. As each group was characterized by unique symptomology and/or host range, we propose that X. campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae be split into three pathovars of X. axonopodis: X. axonopodis pv. mangiferaeindicae, X. axonopodis pv. anacardii, and X. axonopodis pv. spondiae. Within pv. mangiferaeindicae sensu novo, AFLP data were consistent with that previously published for restriction fragment length polymorphism groups and suggested long-distance movement of the pathogen, likely through propagative material.